Even the cleanest schools (and children) are germ factories, and back to school time seems to inevitably lead to increased colds and infections in our kids. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that elementary school children get up to 12 colds during the school year. Then they pass it onto their parents, who give it to their co-workers, who hand it off to the neighbors …

Help break that chain with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, each of which supports the body’s innate immune system in both children and adults. How? Click here to read all about it.

I recently held a seminar with Dr. George Nicoloff, who is board certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine. We were so excited to have over 60 people attend! We agreed to speak on the connection between the gut & immune system, as we know how deeply interwoven they are. We shared a lot of information in just a short time. So although this is not comprehensive, here is a portion of our presentation:

In Chinese Medicine, the relationship between the Lung (immune) and Large Intestine (gut) meridians:

* The Large Intestine is responsible for receiving waste material from the Small Intestine system, absorbing fluid content, and excreting the waste.

* The Lung organ is responsible for governing qi and respiration, regulating water passages, controlling skin and hair and opening to the nose.

* The Qi of both the Large Intestine and the Lung needs to descend to be healthy – when Lung Qi doesn’t descend, we cough.

Eat foods that are warm and easy to digest (temperature is important to gut) Steam vegetables as opposed to eating them raw (only eat raw in spring and summer)

Be careful with food combinations: Protein, fat, complex carb at every meal. Protein the size of your palm, carbs the size of your fist, fats the size of your thumb. See “Game On Diet” by Krista Vernoff

Eat slowly & intentionally. Chew thoroughly.

Lung Meridian =

Ways to care for the Lungs:

Practice deep breathing

Avoid toxic substances that are inhaled (toxic candles (lead and paraffin which is a petroleum biproduct), fumes, toxic household products)

I feel so fortunate to have found such a great doctor who takes time with each of his patients and has a background in holistic medicine. And between acupuncture visits and supplements/herbs, the immune & digestive system can be truly repaired.

Those who think
they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for
illness.”

In the western model of medicine, a cold is transmitted from person to person through a virus or bacteria. This leaves us with the feeling that we are always “exposed” and have no means of self defense. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine model, we can do things to prevent and release disease. This is because disease can only manifest in the correct climate. Therefore, if our immune systems are healthy, we will be much less likely to get sick. This explains why some people get colds twice a season while others get colds very rarely.

The immune system is managed by the nervous system. The immune system can be impaired by what’s called Allostatic Load. Allostatis is our body’s ability to maintain balance when under stress. Thus, Allostatic Load is our bodies immune response to stress. When our body ‘fights’ off’ an illness, it creates an acute stress situation. Acute stress actually helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed. Acute stress actually strengthens our immune system. It is chronic stress that impairs our immune system. Chronic stress comes from overwork, lack of sleep/exercise, poor diet, etc. Acupuncture actually causes acute stress by creating tiny sterile wounds all along the body’s surface. As mentioned, acute stress helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed. Acupuncture also “resets” the Allostatic Load. After acupuncture, the body is relieved from acute & chronic stress and regains its ability to recognize and respond to pathogens. [Read more…]